Families grieving the loss of loved ones in serious road incidents are increasingly being forced to turn to private lawyers to compel police to carry out basic investigative work, according to Pedal Power Association CEO Neil Robinson.

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Robinson’s comments come after the death of Durban cyclist Wessel Van Dyk, who was struck by a vehicle while cycling along the city’s beachfront at the end of July.

Van Dyk, who was well known in the Durban cycling community, died from injuries sustained in the crash. It is alleged that the vehicle was travelling on the wrong side of the road when it struck him.

The driver was detained and appeared in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on August 3 for a bail investigation. The driver was released on R5000 bail on August 11.

The case has been postponed to September 29 for further investigations. No charges have been laid against the driver at this stage, pending the gathering of evidence.

Robinson said the handling of road-related cases was exposing broader weaknesses in South Africa’s criminal justice system.

“We have noticed that victims and grieving families are increasingly forced to appoint private legal counsel simply to compel basic police work, such as issuing subpoenas and transferring dockets to the National Prosecuting Authority,” said Robinson.

The PPA, South Africa’s largest cycling advocacy organisation, has issued a national call for action that includes greater police accountability, faster prosecution of reckless drivers and stronger protection for vulnerable road users.

The organisation said incidents over the past 14 months in KZN, Gauteng and the Western Cape have highlighted what it describes as systemic failures in law enforcement, investigations and court processes.

Enforcement is one of the three pillars of the traditional road-safety framework, alongside engineering and education. It includes monitoring compliance with traffic laws, detecting violations and ensuring that offenders face appropriate legal or administrative consequences.

The PPA said stronger enforcement was necessary to improve accountability and protect cyclists, pedestrians and other vulnerable road users.

The investigation into the circumstances surrounding Van Dyk’s death is continuing. The matter is due back in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on September 29.

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